Onkyo HT-S990THX 7.1 THX Home Theater Entertainment System Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this product about 3 weeks ago, and have now come to fully experience what it can do. It is a wonderful piece of equipment that is worth the money.
Pros:
The system is cost effective. For the money, you get a very good system. Sure, it's not as good as one that costs several thousand dollars, but it's much better than the standard HTIB you can find at a retail store. Remember, you always get what you pay for. If you want a cheap system that will need to be replaced often, this system is not for you. However, if you are like me and are just looking for a good system that's not going to break the bank, consider this as one of your options.
The system is also easy to set up. It comes with color coded wires and connections. The back of the receiver has all speaker connections color coded, and the colors match the wires and speaker terminals. Also, unlike most HTIB systems, the surround wires are long enough to support the room size this system was designed for. Remember, this is not a THX Select or Ultra system. It's not designed to play in large spaces (Select is for 2000 cubic feet, a 250 square foot room with an 8 foot ceiling; Ultra is for 3000+ cubic feet, about a 375 square foot room with an 8 foot ceiling). This system is designed for a smaller room (such as an apartment or small home). My living room is about 170 square feet (I live in an apartment).
The system is also easy to use. Just a glance at the user's manual will let you navigate through the configuration menu with no problems. Unlike other HTIB systems I have seen, the speaker distance is fully configurable, in standard or metric units. Other systems I have seen do not understand that your front speakers might be closer than your rear speakers. Instead, they would assume that this could not be possible, so if your application called for a front speaker distance of 7 feet, and a rear speaker distance of 10 feet, the receiver could not configure it. Therefore, the system did not sound correct unless you rearranged the room, or knock down walls. This system allows you to input any variation of measurements, but it's always in feet or meters. For once, I would like to see a system that had precise control of the delay, to the inch. 6 inches difference is about 0.5 milliseconds. Even though it's a small number, it seems as if the front soundstage is drastically different with differences as small as an inch between the FL/FR and center channels.
Cons:
Receiver does not support HDMI. This is both a pro and a con. First, I priced a Monster HDMI cable. There was one cable at Best Buy for $80. The good stuff started at $120. I didn't even look for anything THX certified. On the other hand, you can get a THX certified Component Video set for about $40, and a THX certified optical audio cable for about $38. From other reviews I have read, there is no noticeable difference between using HDMI and component connections.
Another con is that THX specifications call for a dipole side surround speaker, where as this system comes with a monopole side surround speaker. The side surrounds appear to be the exact same as the back surrounds. THX calls for monopole back surrounds and dipole side surrounds. This can make a difference in how enveloping the surround information is. Even though this system has monopole side surrounds, the surround effect is enveloping, but I've seen $10,000 setups that sounded much better. And this system doesn't cost $10,000 does it?
Yet another con has to do with the crossover point of the system. Ideally, you want all frequencies to blend together properly. In my setup, when using the THX demo disk, I notice a slight dip in bass output when transitioning from the main speakers to the subwoofer, then the subwoofer picks up the volume to normal as the frequency decreases. Now I'm sure I could compensate for this by spending thousands of dollars treating my room structures, purchasing equalizers, and moving the subwoofer around...but I don't want to do that...and probably neither do you. The system does not give perfectly flat response, but is withing 6 dB all the way through the transition. Also, the subwoofer is not the best suited for music. I cannot tell what class box is used (I don't want to take it apart), but it lacks the impact of a sealed box, and acts more like a vented or bandpass box. It delivers a rumbling impact when watching movies, but lacks accuracy for music reproduction. It seems as if there is a very sharp curve as the frequency gets lower, similar to a bandpass box. Listen for yourself and see what you think. Be sure to use music that has various bass frequencies.
Overall, I say this is a 4 out of 5. For those of you that want a dedicated movie theater in your house, this system is probably too small for you. For the rest of us, this is a great solution. It's an entry level high end home theater system, and the best HTIB on the market today. If you are considering going with something cheaper, consider this: This system comes with everything you need to play every audio format widely used today. It does both Dolby Digital and DTS, and adds THX to both standards (you can also listen in the native format being broadcast, with no THX). You can play this system in 2.1, 5.1, 6.1, and 7.1 configurations, and comes with everything necessary to matrix stereo signals into all configurations, as well as matrix 5.1 signals into 6.1 or 7.1. Basically, it's a one-stop-shop. It's one system, in one box, that plays everything. I think that's why it was designed. Maybe more consumers buy HTIB systems rather than seperate components. As far as value, I'm sure if you shop around, you might find a better seperate component system for the same money, or close to it. But what does the average consumer want? Simplicity. This one word best describes this system. Given proper speaker and seating arangements, the system does exactly what it was designed to do, yet it's simple. And what was it designed to do? Bring the movie theater experience to your living room. It does that, without any problems.

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The HT-S990THX is the first system to meet the parameters set by THX for overall system performance as opposed to separate loudspeaker and amplifier performance. In effect, the HT-S990THX represents a high-performance, powerful multichannel solution that combines the convenience of all-in-one systems with the performance of much higher priced separate components. With full THX processing capabilities-- THX ASA-derived playback modes (THX Cinema2, THX Music Mode, THX Games Mode)--you can be assured that this system brings out the full potential of surround sound for all entertainment options. Equally as important, Onkyo's Wide Range Amplifier Technology (WRAT) gives the system a perfect base for stellar amplifier performance. Also, the HT-S990THX's compatibility with XM Satellite Radio and the iPod offers a completeness to this home entertainment system that has rarely been seen before.

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Klipsch XF48 Gloss Black Icon X Series 2-Way floorstanding speaker Review

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(More customer reviews)I never thought that I'd be able to afford speakers that had a retail cost of $2,500 a pair or $1,250 for each. That time finally came when I decided to replace my Polk setup. I ended up purchasing the Klipsch XF-48 towers that I use as my left and right speakers along with the matching XL-23 LCR center channel and two additional XL-23 LCR's as the surrounds on the XFS matching stands. I must say that they are absolutely incredible, even being used as stereo sound. They have a large range for frequency response, and handle the highs, mids, and lows extremely well. The highs aren't too bright and overall the speakers give out a warm sound that I love.
The XF-48 towers have a line-level input (digital coax cable) as well as a speaker-level input (speaker wire). Not many speakers give you this option but it's available on the XF-48's because each speaker has a built in 110-watt amplifier. I used the speaker-level input for about a week but ended up using the line-level input since I thought it sounded better and it also allowed for my receiver to not waste it's power on these speakers since they are already amplified.
Sound during music was great and even sounded better with movies. The design and looks of the speakers also helped in making my decision. They are very classy looking and don't take up as large of a space as many other floor standing speakers. I also like the blue light that glows on them. The only bad thing I can say about this speaker is that each speaker needs to be plugged into an outlet since they have a built in amplifier. If you know a store that you can demo these, please take a listen. I'm not sure what else I can say other than order these now. You'll be happy with your purchase, I know I am.

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CHANNEL VISION AB-902 Complete A-bus Kit for 4 Zone Audio Distribution Review

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(More customer reviews)Five years ago I wired my new house with Cat5 for line level audio and 16 gauge from the volume control to the speakers. I finally got around to installing an A-BUS system from Channel Vision (single source AB-902); it works great even in higher ceilings (10 ft) and outdoor patio areas (10 ft). I am driving some NHT iC2s and Speakercraft CRS 6.1s, they have plenty of volume and sound excellent. A pair of larger NHT iC3s in a 12 foot ceiling large room were a little weak. But after connecting up a Russound R235LS amp, that I expected I would need, they rocked very nicely. The IR repeater works well. The volume controls are not turning off automatically, but this is probably due to some signal leakage at my main amp causing them to stay on. The remote that came with the system is not worth much except for on/off and volume (it had a multi-source option, but I was running single source). I purchased a learning remote that takes care of everything.

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Yamaha YAS-71BL Front Surround System (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been searching for a simple budget out of the box home audio solution that had great sound, ease of use and set up, all the connections I needed and lastly esthetically pleasing and not an eyesore. I looked at all the recommended budget 5.1 and 7.1 system (Onkyo is the best deal for full 5.1 systems) and was frustrated by the price and the over engineered complexity of them all. Real surround sound would be cool but ultimately I just wanted a simple solution with strong, rich sound and any simulated surround would be nice too. I have a Samsung 630 and love the TV but the sound sucks. This YAS-71 sound bar and sub-woofer really have enhanced my home theater experience tremendously. I want to watch all the movies I've already seen in HD again now just to hear them in fuller sound. My wife even likes it, I don't think she's nearly as intimidated by it as much as 5.1 component systems would.
This unit has 4 audio inputs plus a connector for an ipod dock; 3 of the inputs are digital audio inputs (2 optical, 1 coaxial). 1 RCA audio input. I highly recommend using the digital audio inputs to get the best and clearest simulated surround sound. I have a PS3 (my Blu-Ray player), a Toshiba DVD player and my DVR hooked up to the digital inputs and the Yamaha ipod dock hooked up. The ipod dock works well and you can control the ipod to some extent with the remote, though the screen on the front of the bar gives you very minimal information and control for your ipod. There are times I'd rather just select my ipod manually on the ipod itself. My 3G iphone worked with it as well as a 30 gig ipod. They all sounded great.
I have a very boxy, enclosed small to medium sized living room (12' x 18') in an older home and it's perfect for that environment. At volume level 50 (halfway) it really fills the room up with rich sound, at the higher levels it gets surprisingly loud without distortion and blowout. Though If you have a very open or large contemporary living room I wouldn't recommend this system; I'd go with more powerful true surround system where you could space the speakers out to fit the room. This YAS-71 really works best in a room with defined walls to work off of. I wouldn't expect any true surround sound from the YAS-71 but there are times while watching 5.1 DVDs and Blu-rays I notice that some sounds really feel immersive and you can feel the simulated surround effect. Prices have dropped on these recently, they used to retail for $500-$600 and for around $300 this is an exceptional deal.
Positives:
* Easy to set up, there aren't a bunch of wires to run around your room.
* User friendly. Wife friendly.
* 4 audio inputs (3 digital) plus yamaha ipod connector
* Clear, surprisingly powerful, robust simulated 5.1 sound for such a contained unit.
* Great value for the money if you can find it at or under $300
* Looks nice in front of most HDTVs. It virtually matched my piano finished black Samsung.
* Great for enclosed rooms.Negatives:
* No onscreen information and controls on your TV screen, info is only on the soundbar screen. This does not have any video passthrough. (this hasn't been a problem for me though).
* It might not have have all the audio connections you need. Check your setup.
* All the inputs are on the sub woofer, so keep that in mind, you might need longer cables.
* Remote controlling ipod is very minimal.
* ipod dock sold separately ($50-100)
* Not so good for open areas.
Conclusion:
Powerful, clear sound and a good number of inputs for most needs. A simple solution for better home audio. I couldn't be happier with it.

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Cambridge Audio Sirocco Ultima SL70 Slimline Premium Floorstanders (Pair) Review

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(More customer reviews)As far as I know, this is the first review of this Cambridge speaker pair anywhere (even though the box they came in looked like it had been around the world a couple of times, but thankfully with no damage inside). I bought on faith and specs. I did not audition the speakers (no time to find a dealer, then take on one of those creatures called a salesperson). I wanted a small, efficient floorstander, and this pair fills the bill very well.
A one-word description of these speakers could be CLEAN. They look clean, and they sound clean. The build quality is almost flawless. The sound is neutral but very detailed. I have DynAudios and a hybrid tube amplifier in my car and an older stereo setup in another residence (with amp and preamp/tuner and big old Klipsches), so I know clean when I hear it. In their own way, these speakers are as good as or better than my other equipment, even though they cost considerably less. They don't make me miss my other stuff. They have a black, shiny finish that is nicely done and should fit with any flat-screen TV. They look like they came with mine (and whew, my sweetheart actually likes the way they look, once she got used to the idea of 3-foot-tall speakers in the first place). The SL70s have dual connectors for bi-wiring, but they come with a removable metal bridge between the terminals that probably achieves much the same effect without the extra wires. They pair very well with my Marantz AV receiver.
SL70s do need a subwoofer unless you put them in a bathroom. With 3.5s, even three of them, I would have been very surprised if they hadn't. However, they do go down far enough and present so well that the transition between speaker and subwoofer is seamless, especially with classical music. This was not the case with the mediocre-in-every-category bookshelf speakers (that had glowing, mostly 5-star reviews on Amazon, BTW) that they replaced.
Other than the way they were shipped, the only cause for complaint with these speakers is that they came only with carpet spikes. I doubt it would be a good idea to use those on a hardwood floor, so I didn't.
All in all, though, I like these speakers. They look good, they sound good, and that makes them worth whatever I paid. So now, there's a review.

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Sony Professional XLR Microphone Preamp for PCMD1 Review

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(More customer reviews)Allows you to attach ANY of the countless available XLR microphones to your PCM-D1 or PCM-50, really increasing the recording possibilities. Comes with a bracket to attach it underneath your recorder, and a separate bracket for mounting side-by-side.

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Audio-Technica ATH-AD900 Open Air Dynamic Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)I have had the luxury of listening to lots of top level headphones. I have the Audio-Technica ATH-A700 and ATH-AD700, ATH-A900, ATH-AD900, ATH-AD 1000, ATH-AD2000, and ATH-5000; AKG 271, 240, K601, and K701; the Beyerdynamic 770, 880 and 990; Sennheiser 280, 600 and 650; Grado GS-80, GS325i, RS-2, GS-1000; Sony 7505, 7509 and 5000, Denon 2000 and 5000. With the exception of the AKG 240 and 271, all of those headphones are excellent. It becomes a matter of taste and whether you can use them with an Ipod without a separate amplifier.
I think that I most often use the Audio Technica ATH-AD900. They are open back phones. I don't often listen to rock. If that was my primary source for music, I might rely on the Grado's more often. They are fabulous for rock.
The ATH-AD900 have wonderful treble and midrange. The bass is certainly there, but it is not prominent. These have good bass, but it is not the primary feature. By way of comparison, the Bose tri-port and earbuds are very bassy sounding to the point where the bass sounds muddy to me. For the price of the Bose tri-port, you could have the Sennheiser 280 or the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700 or ATH-A700. To me any of these choices would be far better than the Bose tri-port which also appears to be more cheaply made. The separation and detail on the instruments is wonderful. I mostly listen to instrumental music.
The sound stage is large. They sound like you are close to the source of the music, but there is a very small sense of space. The headphones ae comfortable. The headphones earpieces are covered with velour pads. My entire ear (big ears) fits in the enclosure, so they do not rest on my ear.
Since my music collection is just too large to have immediate access to a large selection of titles, I have put portions of my collection on the computer and use an Ipod. These phones can be driven very well with an Ipod and no additional amplification. The Sennheisers really must have independent ammplification to not sound muddy. On acoustic music, the AKG K701 headphones do well without amplification. The Denon headphones are fabulous, but really fare much better with amplification--especially on bass. The Sony does pretty well without amplification, but sound more colored to me than the ATH-AD900 which sound very nuetral to me. You need to be careful when ordering the ATH-AD900 because Audio Technica also has an ATH-A900. These are closed backed headphones rather than open backed. Audio Technica has a number of models where the numbers are the same that are either open backed or closed backed. You need to be careful to get what you want. To my ear, the open backed models generally sound more natural.
Lastly, the Audio Technica line is reasonably priced. You can almost always find a vendor on Amazon Market Place or one of Amazon's fulfillment partners that sell for a price vastly under the MSRP on this brand and many others. All of the headphones mentioned herein were purchased from Amazon or Amazon Marketplace with the exception of Grado. Grado is a fair trade price product. There are no "deals" on Amazon on Grado headphones, but I must say that I am satisfied with the Grados at the prices Grado charges. A store called Audio Cubes often has the lowest bid on the Audio Technica headphones on the Amazon Marketplace website (amazingly enough, your Audio-Technica headphones are actually shipped directly to you from Audio Cube's supplier in Japan). To date, I have received at least three pair of headphones from them in a timely manner and the merchandise to date has all worked just fine. I still have a few more items on the way from Audio Cubes. Hopefully, the rest of the shipments will arrive as quickly and uneventfully as the previous ones have.
If budget is really an issue, the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700 and the Senheisser 280's are a very good buy. The AKG 240 and 271 are quite reasonably priced, but they just don't seem to hold up next to the competition sound wise. To me, they sound kind of clinical and boring. The AKG 701 is fabulous and worth every penny. Also, the Grado GS-80 is unbeatable for the price at about $90.00. The Grado is not my every day headphone, but when I listen to the Grado's, each and every time it is pure joy!!! If you get the Grado, spend $15.00 extra and get the "comfort rings." It makes the headphones so much more comfortable. It also gives you just a little more space between the transducers and your ears. If you can spring into the middle to upper $200.00's, the Denon 2000 (closed back) is a wonderful sounding pair of headphones with mostly metal fittings and gimble like design--quite a reasonable value. It looks and feels like high quality.
If you can spare the money, the Audio-Technica 5000, the Denon 5000, the Beyerdynamic 990, AKG 701, and the Grado GS-325i and RS-2 are all top of the line in the $350.00-$475.00 range. The Sennheiser 600 and 650 are good sounding phones, but you will need to figure at least $100-$200.00 for a headphone amplifier and they are not that comfortable if you have a large head. They grasp the head a little to firmly for my taste.

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DQL-8 - AudioControl 8 Channel Line Output Converter with Auxiliary Input/Digital Signal Processing Review

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(More customer reviews)This processor fixed my poor performing Bose stock sound system. It took a few months of tweaking and some analysis with a RTA, but it is an unbelievable difference in SQ. When I first installed it, I was disappointed with the sound, then as I started making adjustments, I was overwhelmed with the number of settings. But in the end, it is well worth it. The result is a clean, dynamic sound, while keeping your OEM head unit.
It converts the amplified signal from the stock amp, then it allows you to flatten and shape the sound. In my opinion, this is a better option compared to the JL Audio Clean Sweep and Audio Control DQXS combination. I am also glad I opted for the equalization feature of this unit, vs. the LC8i which has no equalization. After analyzing the pre-EQ signal coming out of the Bose stock amp, the frequency pattern is a mess. The EQ allows you to fix the output from your stock amp, then to further adjust it to your taste.
The DDC is a must (wired remote), I have my DDC mounted in my sunglass case, which allows me to make changes to the EQ or choose from 1 of the 4 preset memory settings. The processor also allows you to sum the audio signals (if your fronts are bi-amped) and also has a crossover.
I have the following setup:
Infiniti/Bose 8 channel stock amp
AudioControl DQL-8 with DDC
Kenwood XR-5S
Polk Audio MM6501 (6 1/2" fronts)
Boston Acoustics SR65 (6 1/2" rears)
Polk Audio MM1040(10" sub)

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Onkyo TX-SR806 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)This receiver is amazing. Setting it up was a breeze. For the nontechnicaly advanced and new comers everything is color coded.
When it came to setting up the speakers I came into a small problem. A slight error on my part. So I hope this advice helps others when setting up the speakers. This receiver comes with a mic that is used to electronicaly test the distance from each speaker to 1 of 6 seating positions one at a time to ensure best sound in all 6 seating positions. When using the set up mic to automatically adjust your speaker setting without having to do it manually make sure the surround speakers from your previous 5.1 plug into the "surround" speaker outputs NOT the "Back surround" speakers. The Back surround is for a 7.1 connection which I still need to upgrade to. If you plug them in the wrong outputs of the receiver you will get an error message while performing the auto speaker set up. This will also cause a problem if you try to manually set up the speakers too.
Aside from that small mishap- sounds great easy set up- self explanatory remote- and the reason I bought it, the THX certification.
The THX certification basically means Onkyo paid Lucas to certify that the equipment meets the THX standards. There are several units on the market that might meet the THX lever of quality but unless products pay for the certification we wont know. To me this shows Onkyo cares about letting you know what you are getting. Some people don't need or want this. If this is you Id suggest looking for a model or 2 down the line. This certification is why this unit has the sticker price it does.This unit also has 5 HDMI inputs to plug all sorts of HDMI items in like Xbox 360, PS3, a Blu Player ETC... and one HDMI out to connect to the TV. I also like the blue backlite volume knob and the green display on the face of the unit. If you connect the HDMI out there is a on screen option that allows you the visibility of reading off your TV set vs. the small display screen on the unit. This is good when setting up the speakers. This unit also reads several of upgrade audio options found on the Blu DVDs.
UPDATE 4/27/09
A few things to add...
when connecting electronics in through the HDMI you can choose how it will be displayed when it leaves the receiver and shown on the screen.
In the options I selected to have all images displayed as 1080i since that is the native resolution picture my current TV supports. So my 360 and blu ray all have their images altered via the receiver to the native resolution my screen can handle over all offering a better image. (only through HDMI)
I can also set each sound format (DTS-HD, DOLBY DIGITAL, Dolby TRU HD, ETC.) to be automatically switched to the sound preset of my choosing offered by the receiver. For example NOT THAT I WOULD EVRE DO THIS but if my Blu Disk had a Dolby TRU HD soundtrack I could set my receiver to send the signal out in mono. Doing so will automatically adjust every Dolby TRU HD soundtrack to mono. This is good if you have a specific sound option avail on the receiver you tent to enjoy most. The amp will make a slight click noise to let you know it switched over and boom you get the sound option you want vs reaching for the remote and searching for the sound option you desire.
Also each input, Game, DVD, Tape, CD etc. has its own memory. So whatever you set for the DVD option will not be automatically applied to the game option. This allows me to pick my favorite sound options for each input.
You can also set the default volume setting when you turn the receiver on. So if you shut it off without turning it down it will not turn on at the last volume but rather the preset desired volume. You can also select the volume of how you "mute". Either 50% of the current volume or completely off. You can also pick any volume level between the lowest and the highest available. If you dont want it plaied too loud you can also select the loudest volume level you desire. This wont allow the volume to raise over that selected volume level.Another feature I liked is the ability to rename inputs. I changed the name of my DVD input to read Blu Ray and my Game input to read XBOX360. Now when I uses the remote to select DVD or game the new names I relabeled show up on the onkyo display.
Over all I am happier and happier with my purchase each day. There are still so many features I have only begun to breech the icecap!

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The TX-SR806 occupies a unique position in the Onkyo line-up.We class it as a mid-range A/V receiver. But with its advanced capabilities and THX Ultra2 Plus certification, it`s a worthy challenger for high-end status. Built with high-definition entertainment in mind, the TX-SR806 accommodates up to five HDMITM sources that can handle both 1080p video and studio master-quality surround sound.That`s more high-def sources than you`ll find on any other Onkyo A/V receiver. If that weren`t enough, onboard Faroudja DCDi CinemaTM scales all standard definition sources to 1080p for HDMI output, or to 1080i for component video output. Endowed with the amplification power and dependability expected from an Onkyo A/V receiver, the TX-SR806 stands out as a natural choice for high performance home theater.

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Onkyo TX-SR507 5.1-Channel A/V Surround Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I did a lot of research (including Consumer Reports) and settled on this Onkyo as the best compromise between performance and price. I've had it 2 weeks now and am very happy.
The auto setup function works better than a much-more expensive Denon unit I set up for a friend. I used the microphone (included) to measure speaker levels at 3 different locations in the room and the Onkyo did everything else. (It's connected to some older Polk speakers-- they sound so much better through this amp!)
I bought this primarily to process audio from our new BluRay player and the Onkyo does an outstanding job. The sound is better than in most movie theaters! Especially BluRay DTS or HD Master. Wish more movies were recorded in these formats.
We also have our DirecTV HD DVR hooked up to the Onkyo. Audio and video travel through the HDMI Cables, so there's no need to hook up audio separately. Very nice and a feature you will find missing from some more expensive amps.
The amp does get very warm. I put a small fan in the back of the cabinet and that seems to help.
BTW although this is a 5.1 channel amp is DOES support 7.1 if you want the 2 extra rear speakers... you just have to hook it up to your old amp (or any cheap 2-channel amp) and process those 2 channels that way. The 7.1 decoding IS built into this box.
I am not using the "Zone 2" feature but it's very unusual to have that in a receiver in this price range. You can watch a movie in one room while someone else listens to an iPod or FM in another room.
I don't think you can find a better receiver in this price range (and keep an eye on the price-- it's falling!)


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If you're looking for a budget-friendly A/V receiver that offers versatile connectivity and compatibility with the latest processing technology, Onkyo's TX-SR507 has you covered. With four HDMI 1.3a inputs, it can accept up to four high-definition sources—from Blu-ray Disc to HD broadcasting to high-def games—and output them to your compatible HDTV. HDMI 1.3a also enables you to enjoy the pristine "lossless" audio of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio™, as well as secondary audio on Blu-ray Disc via DTS-HD Express. The TX-SR507 comes with a suite of Audyssey surround-sound technologies to help tailor audio output to the unique dimensions of your entertainment space. Meanwhile, a new universal port makes it easy to incorporate an optional Onkyo Dock for the iPod or Onkyo HD Radio tuner into your system. With all this, plus four high-impact Game Modes and the ability to send different audio to two rooms simultaneously, the TX-SR507 puts a huge amount of entertainment potential at your fingertips.

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Onkyo CSV720S Executive Shelf System with Universal DVD Review

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(More customer reviews)I own 2 of these because the first one was so good. Besides being able to play anything well (CD, SACD, DVD), the amplifier section generates a clean, cool 23W into 4 ohms, enough to drive the included speakers to very high levels, the baby speakers are fantastically good, the microfibre woofer-midrange really works. Give the speakers 100 hours or more to break in, because they are light, you may want to weight them down. I listen only to classical music and I switched to these speakers from Epos 11's, for those who know, I cannot say more about the quality. Just listened to Water Lily Acoustics' SACD of Shostakovich 7 from St Petersburg. All I can say is "wow". But Boulez and Cleveland doing Debussy from 1992 on good old PCM sounds almost as good. Who would have thought Onkyo could produce such a great miniature.

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Onkyo Executive Shelf System w/univ. DVD CSV720S

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Clark Synthesis TST429 Platinum Transducer Review

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(More customer reviews)This is one of those products that you are either crazy about or just couldn't care less about. I recommend this product for Any kind of audio or A/V application. With the correct amp this product adds a dimension to the enjoyment of music you don't even know is missing until you turn it off.
No denying it is expensive especially when you consider you still have to buy an amplifier. However, I have tried other tactile transducers, notably the Buttkick LFE, that cost much less, and there really is no comparison. Please note, this is a review of the Clark Synthesis Platinum, their most powerful tactile transducer. The effect produced by the Clark Platinum unit is immense. It's akin to pulling the switch on a low RPM power drill only to find that you have more torque than you need, Lots more! The Buttkicker unit never approached the output of the Clark Platinum and under the same levels of amplification tended to bottom out. Furthermore, I have had 4 Clark Platinum units in use for over 3 years now, (one of them over 5 years), without a single problem. The Buttkicker eventually gave up the ghost; after two years of use there was finally no dicernable output from the unit, at amplification levels that had the Clark Platinum units practically bouncing the couch off the floor, (which I suppose should happen if a T-Rex walked into your multi-media room/theater). In defense of the Buttkicker company, they make what might be the best tactile tranducer amplifier around. The amp is comparitively inexpensive, has Lots of power, and the added versatility of user controllable frequency response filters. I have two Buttkicker amps powering two Clark Platinums (wired in parallel) each with the gain control set at a notch below half power. This gives the amp plenty of head room for those particullary troublesome passages.
I suggest you try it. If you don't like the effect, try it at differnt levels. If you still don't like the effect, well...you won't have any trouble getting rid of it somewhere but I can pretty much guarantee that someone in the family is going to like it so mount it into the frame of their favorite chair, (see Clark Synthesis website for mounting suggestions). They'll thank you.

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Yamaha RX-V3800BL 7.1-Channel Network Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I confess, I am a electronic consumer nut. After "getting by" on SVHS and component hookups for my electronic equipment, I bit the bullet and started looking for a receiver that had enough HDMI inputs, enough SVHS inputs, an input for my iPod and RCA-phono/USB-phono, LAN and computer. Previously, I had a Pioneer VSX-9500, then a Yamaha model with about 5 SVHS inputs, and a Denon AVR 4802R with 7 SVHS inputs. After a couple of months of searching through the usual suspects, including the other brands I have had, I settled on the Yamaha RX-V3800 in black because it allowed me to do enough of what I wanted to do from my shopping list I mentiond earlier.
First of all, I was surprised to find that all the receivers I looked at had downsized their number of connections from four years ago when I bought my Denon receiver. I was having to look at receivers costing 2 to 3 times as much as the RX-V3800 before I could find one with as many inputs, and I found even Yamaha's RX-Z11 had the same number as the RX-V3800, and it ran almost $5,000.00. Then, I thought about it... what were the inputs I really used most of all: SVHS, BluRay, HD-DVD, DVR, DVR-VHS combo, CD player, cassette, and phono. There was one input remaining that I was able to use with a junction box for ED-Beta,Laser Disc, XM radio, and an DVR-R recorder, so the Yamaha RX-V3800 would do without me having to compromise too much.
But, let's get to the machine and all of it's pluses:
The sound... It is terrific! With my previous system, I had to gerry-rig the side speakers using a quadraphonic synthesizer, but the RX-V3800 has the following speaker connections: left-front, right-front, center, left-side, right-side, left-rear, right-rear and sub-woofer. My previous set-up had a rear-center, and after reading a little, I found you could hook-up a rear center by using the RCA connection labeled "Single (SB)." (There's a "SURBACK PRESENCE" that can be used, also, but it was designed for when you only wanted one rear channel). When you set-up the speakers, Yamaha has a special optimizer microphone you plug into the front of the unit and it balances your speakers based on where you have the microphone placed.
The four HDMI inputs are great, too, because it allows me to have the best picture and sound from my BluRay, HD-DVD, Satellite Receiver, and DVR-VHS unit.
The Internet radio is easy to use, and it is programmed with plenty of stations. The selection of stations with the Yamaha remote is easy and the sound is wonderful.
The iPod Yamaha YDS-10 dock option is a must if you have an iPod. Quite frankly, I probably won't use my phono, now, except to make digital recordings of out-of-date vinyl recordings because of the ease of operation of the iPod through the docking station, especially if you have the 80 or 160 GB model of iPod with all the music they can hold.
The XM set-up with the XM Extreme is nice and integrates smoothly. I, actually, use an older XM radio through two RCA inputs, but with the XM Extreme directly connected, it is easier to use.
The computer set-up is not as easy as the manual would make you believe, but it is easier if you do the following: Make sure your PC has XP Service Pack Two or Vista on it AND you have Windows Media Player 11 installed, have your 232 Serial Ports between the computer and the Yamaha RX-V-3800 connected, and have a networking guide for your operating system. Once you have those done, you go into Windows Media Player, select "Library" at the top, and then select "Media Sharing" to allow the tunes on your PC to be shared with your receiver. For other PC's on your LAN, it would be best for you to already have those tunes shared, but if you connect an iPod, that might not be necessary. While I am at it, I will say this about Media Player ll: once you've checked the right boxes, it does a good job.
Overall, I am extremely pleased with the Yamaha RX-V3800. I did think that they could have done a better job with the manual... for example, in setting-up the PC, you start reading the instructions and it refers you to two other sections of the manual, and when things just didn't seem to jell, one finds that later in the manual, they show you how to do the set-up more thoroughly and manually, if needed. That said and done, though, I would buy this receiver again. I do wish it had more inputs, but then again, most people don't have as much to hook-up as I do. If there were a four-and-a-half stars rating, I would give it, but I'm stuck giving it only four.

UPDATE: It is two months after first doing this review, and I still love this receiver. I bought a great pair of outside speakers that look like rocks, HiFi Works 30020 HFW 6.5-Inch Rock Speakers (Pair), and use the "Room 2" with the X-10 Powermid remote extender, X10 POWERMID Remote Control Extender Kit PM5900. This set-up is wonderful! I sometimes have the iPod play outside, while inside they are watching TV on the HDTV. One caution, when setting-up the "Room 2," it will ask you what is the initial volume you want the "room" to have. I had not paid that much attention to those dB settings on the volume you get across the screen of the TV, and the first time I used Room 2, you could hear the music over a block away... Those speakers didn't flinch and their tone was terrific! (Unfortunately, our house was so sound proof, I didn't know I was blowing-out the neighbors.) Using the X-10 remote control extenders really is a blessing. If you use the extenders in other areas of the house, be sure to have your remote receiver up close to the Yamaha.

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The Yamaha RX-V3800 7.1-Channel Network Home Theater Receiver offers high-end sound and video quality to take your home theater experience to the next level.It provides 980 Watts of total power, pushing 140 Watts to each of its 7 channels.This advanced home theater receiver introduces new technologies and features including 3D CINEMA DSP, the latest HDMI 1.3a specification support, upscaling to 1080p, full support for high definition audio formats signals, Adaptive DRC and Adaptive DSP Level, YPAO Auto Setup with Quick Start, and multi-zone custom installation support and Network Receiver functions.High quality components, crystal clear sound and video clarity, and cutting edge technologies will make the Yamaha RX-V3800 the cornerstone of your home theater experience.

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Harman Kardon AVR-354 7x75W 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)It's unfortunate about the previous poster but I have the same unit and it is incredible! The unit has all the bells and whistles that you would expect on a much higher priced receiver. Do some research on the the chips used in this thing, they are incredible and are found only in a $5000 high end competitors line. The weakness of this receiver is that it can sometimes be too rich of a sound and lacks the crisp high that some look for because, honestly the degraded sound that we have received from companies like Sony and what we listen to in our cars have ruined our idea of what even sounds are. Just a side note, one of my buddies was the one who brought this "weakness" to my attention because he said it didn't have enough high range. I told him well watch the whole movie and lets see how fatigued your ears feel. Afterward, he was amazed how nice and easy it is to listen to this HK. The strength is it's punch and ability in the home theater to make gun fire sound like gun fire and not rocks being thrown against a tin roof. HK doesn't disappoint in my opinion with this receiver and it's too bad one customer, and the only review had a experience that is honestly out of this world. HK customer support is probably one of the best in the world, and are often recognized for that fact. Besides one month old and breaks, why not take it back to Best Buy?

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Harman Kardon AVR-354 7x75 watt 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver is your all-in-one receiver for your home theater system. This 7.1-Channel A/V receiver includes HDMI switching and audio/video processing. With 525 watts (75 watts x 7 channels) at your fingertips, movies will put you into the heart of the action. Picture this! The AVR-354 not only includes a host of powerful features such as DCDi by Faroudja video processing, Simplay HD'-verified HDMI' 1.1 connectivity with full audio processing as well as EzSet/EQ'and XM Ready technology - it uses a colorful user interface to make system setup and operation easier than ever. Add full multi-room capability with A-BUS connectivity and you have pure Harman Kardon sound everywhere in the house.

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Yamaha RX-V463BL 525 Watt 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this reciever based on a review I read from audioholics and I figured why not just post it for everyone to read. I couldn't agree more with their review. It is a solid receiver for the $299 amazon price.
2008 has started off with some amazing prices and features being offered on budget A/V receivers. Just as the new high-end receivers gain new features and new technologies, so do the receivers on the low end of the price spectrum. This is the first time that basic HDMI functionality has been offered on receivers for under $350. This is a winning situation for everyone. Most would think that $350 would not get you anything of quality and in the past that would be correct; Not so anymore. The RX-V463 is a feature laden piece of gear that far from your budget receiver of the past.With impressive audio processing power the Yamaha RX-V463 dives into territory once occupied by receivers costing twice as much or more.Those features include things such as 192kHz/24-bit DACs for all channels, 6-channel external decoder input, iPod and Bluetooth compatibility (via optional Yamaha YDS-10 YBA-10 docking modules) and YPAO for automatically optimizing the sound in your room. And if thats not enough for you then how about 3 HDTV compatible component video inputs, 8 DSP programs, a compressed music (MP3) enhancer, and the ability to view iPod song titles displayed on the front panel and OSD, Dolby Digital and DTS processing, and XM- and XM HD-ready. That is one heck of a feature set for a sub-$350 receiver.
With a rated power of 100 watts x 5 the RX-V463 is no pansy when it comes to power either. Yamaha has offered more bang for your buck than most for a while now, and this budget receiver continues in this tradition. And with Yamaha's power ratings being very conservative, it is not unreasonable to think this little receiver will beat its rated specs. In short, there is more than enough power being offered here.
In addition to dual HDMI switching inputs, there are three component inputs, three S-video inputs, and three composite video inputs - each with one output as well. For audio, five analog stereo inputs, 6.1 analog inputs, two TOSlink inputs and one coaxial digital input round out the receiver. The RX-V463 also has real binding posts instead of those cheap spring clip terminals that so often plague other budget units.Like all of the newest Yamaha receivers, setup is could not be any easier with the addition of the on-screen Setup menu. This is a noteworthy feature in itself on a budget receiver. While it is not as advanced as the system found on more expensive Yamaha receivers, it is accurate and easy. Also offered is a new feature called SCENE buttons. SCENE buttons are like macros that are preprogrammed to launch a variety of commands. Build quality is very good and the unit weighs a solid 17.6 lbs. This is a great budget receiver.


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High-Performance Home Theater Receiver offering many advanced functions including 1080p-compatible HDMI, XM and SIRIUS Satellite Radio ready, iPod and Bluetooth compatibility, CINEMA DSP,YPAO sound optimization, and four SCENE buttons.

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Amplivox S610A 50-Watt Half Mile Hailer Review

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(More customer reviews)I received this item 4 days after I paid for it and it rocks...Awesome features exactly what I needed...Sound is awesome and it does work a half mile away lol!

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Onkyo TX-SR705 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)The reason to get this receiver over the 605 is the step up to 3 hdmi inputs and THX certification.
The power consumption of this unit is more efficient then the 805 and 605. This unit was built after those 2 other models. This isn't the lonely middle child, it shines on its own.
There is also a slew of issues this receiver does not exhibit that the 805 has problems with (check AVS forums for details)
HDMI video looks great, 7.1 sound great! Price is great! :)

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